Systems and Methods for Object Surface Estimation

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided that provide for surface estimation of an object. In particular, the surface estimation can be determined with little or no a priori information regarding the position or topography of the object within a given volume. In select embodiments, the systems and methods can be used for microwave imaging, and particularly for estimating breast surfaces during the imaging process.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a sensor, one or more reflections from a surface of an object while the sensor is scanned in a pattern that localizes the surface of the object within a medium;   converting the reflections into one or more signals; and   estimating a position of the surface of the object within the medium in response to the one or more signals.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising locating a physiological feature on the object using a grid scan, said grid scan comprising:
 receiving signals corresponding to reflections from the object surface while the sensor is moved in a pre-defined path; and   determining a distance from the sensor to the physiological feature.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing a scan in a selected area of the surface of the object, wherein an antenna scan pattern is determined in response to information from a coordinate representation of the surface of the object. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 conducting a first scan of the surface of the object with a first sensor; and   conducting a second scan, substantially concurrently with the first scan, of an interior portion of the object with a second sensor.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a model of the surface of the object in response to a plurality of estimates of the position of a plurality of portions of the surface of the object within the medium. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning an antenna within a predetermined proximity of the surface of the object in response to the estimate of the position of the surface of the object within the medium. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 emitting a beam of light from a laser directed at the surface of the object;   receiving, at a photo-detector, reflections of the light from the surface of the object; and   converting the received reflections into one or more electrical signals.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 moving an antenna that receives microwave energy reflections from the surface of the object in a pre-selected pattern, the pre-selected pattern being defined to allow overlap of a first geometrically-estimated area calculated from said energy reflection on the object surface at a first antenna location with a second geometrically-estimated area calculated from the energy reflection on the object surface at a second antenna location; and   generating a coordinate representation of the surface of the object.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 emitting an ultrasonic pulse from a transducer, the ultrasonic pulse directed at the surface of the object;   receiving a reflection of the ultrasonic pulse from the surface of the object; and   converting the received reflection into one or more electrical signals.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 capturing a digital image of the surface of the object with a digital camera; and   estimating the location of the surface of the object in response to one or more properties of pixels comprising the digital image.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a sensor configured to:
 receive one or more reflections from a surface of an object while being scanned in a pattern that localizes the surface of object within a medium; and 
 convert the reflections into one or more signals; and 
   a signal processing device coupled to the sensor, the signal processing device configured to estimate a position of the surface of the object within the medium in response to the one or more signals.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the signal processing device is further configured to locate a physiological feature on the object in response to data received from a grid scan, the grid scan comprising:
 receiving signals corresponding to reflections from the object surface while the sensor is moved in a pre-defined path; and   determining a distance from the sensor to the physiological feature.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor is further configured to scan in a selected area of the object, wherein a sensor scan pattern is determined in response to information from the coordinate representation or any other means of determining an outline of the surface of the object. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first sensor configured to conduct a first scan of the surface of the object; and   a second sensor configured to conduct a second scan, substantially concurrently with the first scan, of an interior portion of the object.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the signal processing device is further configured to generate a model of the surface of the object in response to a plurality of estimates of the position of a plurality of portions of the surface of the object within the medium. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a positioning arm coupled to an antenna, the positioning arm configured to position the antenna within a predetermined proximity of the surface of the object in response to the estimate of the position of the surface of the object within the medium. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a laser configured to emit a beam of light directed at the object; and   a photo-detector configured to:
 receive reflections of the light from the surface of the object; and 
 convert the received reflections into one or more electrical signals. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an antenna configured to receive microwave energy reflections from an object surface; and   a positioning arm coupled to the antenna, the positioning arm configured to move the antenna in a pre-selected pattern, the pre-selected pattern being defined to allow overlap of a first geometrically-estimated area calculated from the energy reflection on the object surface at a first antenna location with a second geometrically-estimated area calculated from the energy reflection on the object surface at a second antenna location.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an ultrasound transducer configured to:
 emit an ultrasonic pulse directed at the surface of the object; 
 receive a reflection of the ultrasonic pulse from the surface of the object; and 
 convert the received reflection into one or more electrical signals. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a digital camera configured to capture a digital image of the surface of the object; and   the signal processing device coupled to the digital camera, the signal processing device configured to estimate the location of the surface of the object in response to one or more properties of pixels comprising the digital image.